Associate Director, Therapeutic Area (Platforms/Emerging Technologies),

Summary

About this role:

Location: Hyderabad, India

Domestic Relocation Support: Yes

Ready to shape how Novartis understands the competitive landscape? As the Associate Director, Therapeutic Area (Platforms/Emerging technologies (including RLT)), Enterprise Competitive Intelligence, you will lead a high‑performing team to deliver timely, relevant, and high‑quality competitive intelligence (CI) that informs our pipeline, portfolio, and enterprise strategy, in a specific Therapeutic Area. You will partner closely with leaders across Biomedical Research, Development, and our United States and International commercial organizations to uncover trends, white‑space opportunities, and strategic risks. In addition, you will also serve as the single point of contact for a designated business unit, you will curate intelligence, translate it into clear implications, and guide decision‑making at key governance forums. You will also champion modern data and analytics—including artificial intelligence (AI)‑enabled tools—to build a best‑in‑class intelligence capability and centralized repository. By empowering and developing talent in Hyderabad and fostering a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing, you will turn insight into impact for patients worldwide.

About The Role

ECI Strategic Visioning and Execution

• Articulate and drive vision, supporting enterprise goals and priorities.
• Serve on the ECI Leadership Team representing both specific TA and the designated Unit perspective.
• Lead change management efforts, including active sponsorship, clear communication, and maintaining focus on enterprise-wide benefits.
• Bring in industry best practices and disruptive ideas to strengthen the practice of CI.
  
  

Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration as a Strategic Partner

• Ensure key customers of CI are well-served, trust the data quality, and see intelligence as a foundation for developing key insights.
• Curate TA-specific intelligence, formulate initial implications, and facilitate discussions with stakeholders.
  
  

Governance and Objectivity

• Ensure high quality CI is delivered with accuracy, timeliness, and relevance, serving all business units impartially and without bias.
• Review CI and insights developed for key internal governance bodies (e.g. Discovery & Translational Board and the Innovation Management Board).
  
  

Technological Acumen and Innovation

• Champion the modernization of CI data systems and the integration of AI capabilities to enable smarter, faster decision-making.
• Encourage experimentation and iterative development, with a focus on transparency and strategic prioritization of new capabilities.
  
  

Talent Development and Empowerment

• Lead a team providing timely and reliable TA CI to relevant internal stakeholders
• Identify, coach, attract, develop, and retain top talents; partner with P&O leadership to develop people strategy (e.g. organization development, performance, career development)
• Foster an environment that supports employee development & support them in times of change
  
  

Essential Requirements

• Advanced degree (PhD or MBA preferred) with leadership experience in Competitive Intelligence in pharma/ life sciences / Biotech sector.
• Minimum 12 years of experience spanning CI, consulting, banking, or relevant sector roles.
• Deep understanding of the global biopharma landscape, including assets, companies, and emerging technologies.
• Strong ability to influence, challenge, and collaborate with senior leaders and cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to simplify complex information.
• Proven capability to lead and develop high‑performing teams with diverse scientific and commercial backgrounds.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including strategic thinking and effective prioritization.
• Experience modernizing CI data systems and applying AI‑enabled analytics; congress and global stakeholder engagement exposure.
  
  

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)